. >> fireman mike chiapperini, who is also a lieutenant with the webster police department, was deceased at the scene. >> reporter: 43-year-old chiapperini was named the webster fire department's firefighter of the year just two weeks ago. also slain, tomasz kaczowka. the department calls him a tremendous young man. >> these people get up in the middle of the night to go put out fires. they don't expect to be shot and killed. >> reporter: webster police have identified the gunman as 62-year-old william spengler, whose home burned today. he had a lengthy criminal history, serving 17 years for killing his grandmother with a hammer back in 1980. no word about what his motive was today or where he got his guns. >> spengler was a convicted felon. he's not allowed to possess weapons. >> reporter: tonight, two firefighters are in stable condition in the hospital. 33 people were evacuated after the fire engulfed seven homes. >> it's a shock. that something like this would happen but for some reason, violence is rearing its ugly head in this community. and everywhere. >> reporter: paula faris, ab